Chapter 26
I thought Daisy had a backstory with Jelly, so she'd be something like a sub-female lead, the heroine's ally, or best friend. But seeing Kanna dislike her, I must've been wrong.
Then there's only one answer, right? When I possessed the original villainess Evangeline, the genre shifted to a villainess possession story. Plus, the original heroine Kanna adores me, so she wouldn't sabotage my romance route. That's why they threw in a supporting villainess! To heighten the rom-fantasy anguish as a romantic obstacle!
That explanation fits perfectly. I'd wondered why a female character with a sudden backstory popped up. And Daisy's a nun now? She'll probably become a saint next. A saint versus a villainess? Perfect opposition.
So from now on, Daisy will keep showing up around Gabriel and Jelly to wreck my relationships.
I'd love to cheer them on to play house freely, but Evangeline's the villainess, right? In rom-fantasies, villainesses who don't get love plummet straight to ruin—that's the natural order. Sorry, Gabriel, I'm not pond-managing because I like you.
“Please sit first.”
Gabriel, soon to be diligently ponded, politely pulled out a chair for me, oblivious to his future.
“I left Uriel in charge of escorting you. Why are you with Raphaella? Where's Uriel?”
“Uriel's at the infirmary. He's not hurt—it's Michel.”
“Michel?”
“It's a long story, so to explain….”
Raphaella began recounting the situation to Gabriel. How they'd run into me and Uriel while seeing Daisy off, then heard voices and rushed to find the burning painting.
Gabriel swallowed hard upon hearing up to that point.
“The painting caught fire….”
“Yes. We don't know the cause. We'll have to question those present at the time.”
Raphaella shrugged. Cause of the fire? It didn't start on its own—one of those people must've set it. Would the culprit confess honestly? More likely they'd clam up.
Well, even without a confession, plenty of witnesses mean the culprit will be exposed.
“Does Lady Rohanson have any guesses?”
I hesitated to answer Gabriel's question directly. Won't they accuse me of baseless suspicion? But paintings don't self-ignite—someone set it. Honestly, even Raphaella and Michel seemed suspicious. I arrived late and saw Michel already ablaze.
“Who knows.”
So I gave a vague response and moved on. Gabriel showed no big reaction—probably the right call.
Raphaella continued. How Michel, locked in his room, suddenly appeared and plunged into the flames; how I doused him with Holy Water to extinguish them.
This part was new to me. Michel just charged into the fire? Is he insane? Why rush in there? That's why everyone froze and just watched!
Gabriel didn't even twitch an eyebrow at the tale of madness. As expected of the classic rom-fantasy male lead who's only tender to his woman. Would've been even more perfect if born in the north.
“Thank you for saving Michel.”
Gabriel bowed his head. That's the righteous knight male lead who cares for his subordinates.
Ah, what a relief. I saved him out of basic conscience, but it feels like I stacked some favor with Gabriel. This offsets one of Evangeline's past misdeeds.
“Still, it's fortunate Javania Bishop discovered it.”
“Is it…?”
“He's on our side.”
“True. At least he'll help cover it up.”
Male lead quality indeed. Gabriel wasn't even there, yet from Raphaella's report, he explained how things would unfold.
The old-fogey bishop disliked Donau's painting, so he'd aid in burying the arson. There'd still be clashes like before, but with it fully burned, much easier.
“Our prior investigations to remove the painting will help too.”
He's appealing that he's been diligently preparing to back me up. Nice—perfect timing to pond-manage.
“Is that so? I'm curious what efforts you've made.”
This should suffice. But villainess pride won't let me suddenly turn sunshine heroine with 'Wow, you worked for me? Evangeline's so touched!' Still, to pad the convo….
“You called me here because a witness appeared, right?”
Exactly. Daisy just gave testimony. Of course, not just that—she probably badmouthed me too.
Wait… let's test this.
“So what did you hear?”
“Commander!”
Sharp adjutant as expected. Raphaella's hinting her boss is ensnared in romantic trials. A glare shut her up with a flinch.
“I asked you, Sir.”
I turned back to Gabriel. Beneath raven-black hair gleamed unusually clear blue eyes—like a blue star adrift in sea and sky, no ground beneath. Seeing myself reflected felt like I'd landed first, marring it with footprints.
“What did Daisy tell you?”
Gabriel didn't avert his gaze. I stared back, admiring his face. Whoa, nearly mesmerized. True to rom-fantasy male lead, his looks are killer. Jelly's handsome too, but as sub-male lead, can't top Gabriel.
“She must've talked about me.”
“Who knows. I heard nothing about you.”
Huh? Liar. She said she did. Seeing my doubt, Gabriel handed over a paper.
“The witness's statement from just now.”
Seemed like Daisy's compiled testimony. First page summarized convent events.
The director summoned something ominous with a Summoning Circle identical to the temple's painting, gaining powers for misdeeds.
What! How far has my Summoning Circle spread!
And she succeeded too! What spirit? Donau summoned a fire spirit, so same type?
Why no spirit for me! So unfair! She summoned one and rampaged with evil. I wouldn't….
No need for werewolf! Swap for small, cute spirit! How'd she learn the method? Why don't I know!
Wait… isn't the painting fire linked? The director trying to monopolize the Summoning Circle. Fire spirit snuffed it remotely! Villain…. Used my circle plenty. Well, Evangeline's mom's originally.
“I'd love to meet this priest.”
Grab the collar and shake her down. Resolved firmly.
Ah, but that's not the point. Nearly obsessed over spirits and forgot the goal. Flipped to next page. About me now?
Evangeline Rohanson…. Vision warped there. Shattered like glass, letters glitching. One character split into dozens, jumbled—unreadable. Translation error now…?
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□.
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□.
What is this! Why illiterate again at this moment!
“I heard nothing.”
Gabriel looked utterly innocent, pointing at it.
He can't know my translation glitched. So he's genuinely aboveboard? I saw Evangeline's name…. Nothing major?
No way! Daisy must've spilled. This means she downplayed my villainy, or Gabriel's smitten and can't judge.
“Take it if you want.”
Latter, probably. Nearly jumped at Gabriel's words. Was pondering how to reread post-fix—did he read my mind? Male lead prowess….
Grinned, tore the paper, passed to Kanna. She glared murderously but pocketed it reluctantly. Why glare…? Kanna illiterate too?
Thought heroines read fine? This rom-fantasy's grim—made her illiterate for suffering. Can't rely on translation forever. Let's learn letters at home….
“Satisfied?”
Yes, totally. Leaving it would've nagged; now I can read later.
“Plenty.”
“We called you here to show that. I said before—I want to help you.”
Never planned to hide from me? I'm the one ponding, yet he's reverse-ponding. Smooth talker. Admiring rom-fantasy male lead skill, a knock sounded.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
“Commander. Message from Javania Bishop via messenger.”
“Said the Holy Water for Lady Rohanson was delivered to her escort. And he'd like to see you briefly.”
“Got it—dismissed.”
“Yes.”
Jelly finished the errand well. Probably restocked exact count. I'll verify later.
Time to head back?
